The Vermont Statutes Online
The Statutes below include the actions of the 2025 session of the General Assembly.
NOTE: The Vermont Statutes Online is an unofficial copy of the Vermont Statutes Annotated that is provided as a convenience.
Subchapter
013
:
DRUNKEN DRIVING
(Cite as: 23 V.S.A. § 1212)
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§ 1212. Conditions of release and parole; arrest upon violation
(a) At the first appearance before a judicial officer of a person charged with violation
of section 1201 of this title, the court, upon a plea of not guilty, shall consider whether to establish conditions
of release. Those conditions may include a requirement that the defendant not operate
a motor vehicle if there is a likelihood that the defendant will operate a motor vehicle
in violation of section 1201 or 1213 of this title. The court may consider all relevant evidence, including whether the defendant has
a motor vehicle or criminal record indicating prior convictions for one or more alcohol-related
offenses. Prior convictions may be established for this purpose by a noncertified
photocopy of a motor vehicle record, a computer printout, or an affidavit. Nothing
in this section limits the authority of a judicial officer to impose other conditions
of release, nor does it limit or modify other statutory provisions concerning license
suspension or revocation or the right of a person to operate a motor vehicle.
(b) A court that requires as a condition of release that a defendant not operate a motor
vehicle shall so notify the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. The Commissioner shall
take suitable steps to ensure that this information is available to law enforcement
officers. The court shall promptly advise the Commissioner of any modification of
this condition of release and of the termination of proceedings.
(c) A law enforcement officer who observes a person violating a condition of release requiring
that he or she not operate a motor vehicle may promptly arrest the person for violating
a condition of bail and shall bring the person before the nearest available judicial
officer without unnecessary delay. A law enforcement officer who otherwise has probable
cause to believe that a person has violated a condition of release requiring that
he or she not operate a motor vehicle shall promptly notify a prosecuting officer.
(d) A law enforcement officer who observes a person violating a condition of parole requiring
that the person not operate a motor vehicle may promptly arrest the person for violating
the condition and may detain the person pursuant to 28 V.S.A. § 551. The officer may immobilize the vehicle and shall immediately notify the Parole Board
of the suspected violation. If the Parole Board determines pursuant to 28 V.S.A. § 552 that a parole violation has occurred, the Board shall notify the State’s Attorney
in the county where the violation occurred, who may institute forfeiture proceedings
against the vehicle under section 1213c of this title. (Added 1983, No. 134 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2009, No. 126 (Adj. Sess.), § 8, eff. July 1, 2011; 2011, No. 56, § 11, eff. May 31, 2011; 2021, No. 20, § 242.)